Exercise and massaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercise and massaging apparatus comprises a support structure, motive means coupled to the support structure for operation by a person, and a belt having massaging elements to be worn by such person. Drive means couple the motive means to the belt for causing the belt and massaging elements to revolve about the belt encircled body portion of the person responsive to the operation of the motive means.

United States Patent [1 1 Simjian Oct. 28, 1975 EXERCISE AND MASSAGING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Luther G. Simjian, 7 Laurel Lane,

Greenwich, Conn. 06830 [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 496,307

[52] US. Cl. 128/56; 128/58; 128/63 [51] Int. Cl. A6ll-l 7/00; A6l1-1 11/00 [58] Field of Search 128/57, 58, 63, 24 R, 24.2,

- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 781,683 2/1905 Shepherd 128/58 UX 3,727,608 4/1973 Simjian 128/63 Primary Examiner,Lawrence W. Trapp [57] ABSTRACT An exercise and massaging apparatus comprises a support structure, motive means coupled to the support structure for operation by a person, and a belt having massaging elements to be worn by such person. Drive means couple the motive means to the belt for cau'sing the belt and massaging elements to revolve about the belt encircled body portion of the person responsive to the operation of the motive means.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,915,158

' n I IIIJI IIII.

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,915,15

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EXERCISE AND MASSAGING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE'INVENTION.

This invention is related to exercise and massaging apparatus as previously disclosed by me in US. Pat. Nos. 3,670,723; 3,727,608; 3,777,745; pending applications for US. Pat. Ser. No. 405,406 filed Oct. 11, 1973 and Ser. No. 487,050 filed July 10, 1974.

The above referenced patents and pending applications disclose exercise apparatus which are combined with a massaging means so that a person operating the particular apparatus for the purpose of subjecting himself to exercise receives simultaneously a massage. The intensity of the massaging action is directly related to the muscular effort expended by the person during such exercise. The exercise apparatus of the type indicated above comprises, typically, a bicycle or a rowingtype apparatus and a massaging means which, as shown previously, preferably includes resilient rollor means mounted to a massaging belt.

The present invention discloses a very similar exercise and massaging apparatus in the form of a bicycle in combination with massaging means mounted for rotation about the body portion encircled by the massaging means which has secured thereto individual massaging elements. The mechanical coupling between the exercise apparatus and the massaging means is so constructed that responsive to the motive effort expended by the user, the massaging elements are caused to undergo their revolving motion.

Specific features of the present invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodi ment of the present invention; I 7 FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the massaging means;

buckle means 36 for adjusting closing the belt around the waist or torso of the particular person. This adjustment is used also for selecting the engagement force between the massaging elements and the body. Responbody portion of the wearer, which'action, of course,

provides a massaging effect and the speed of rotation j siveto the rotation of the pedal shaft 24 and of the shaft 32, the belt B with m'assaging elements 34 secured thereupon is caused to revolve around the encircled beingdirectly responsive'to the expenditure of muscle 'power, that is, the operation of the pedals.

The detailed mechanism for accomplishing the above massaging action will be more clearly evident from FIGS. 2 through 5. Referring now to these figures, a

miter gear 40 is secured to shaft 32 and gear 40 meshes with a corresponding miter gear 42 secured upon a vertically disposed drive shaft 44 which has a splined end 46. The splined end 46 is engaged by the termination 48 of a shaft 50 which has secured thereupon a gear 52, a roller 54, a roller 56 and a gear 58. The shaft 50 is supported in a C-shaped bracket 60 which supports also the stub shaft 62 having secured thereupon a gear 64 meshing with gear 58 and a roller 66 driven by the shaft 62 and the gear 64. Similarly, the opposite end bracket 60 supports a shaft 70 having secured thereupon a gear 72 meshing with gear 52 and a roller 74 driven by a combination of the shaft 70 and the gear v and 42, and drive shafts 44 and 50. The belt is equipped FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 33 in FIG. 2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

Referring now to the figures and FIG. 1 in particular with a plurality of spaced C-shaped holders 92, each being provided with a shaft 94 having mounted thereupon a respective massaging element 34. The massaging elements, preferably, are'of firm material and may be of spherical or cylindrical shape adapted to rotate about their respective shafts or, if fixedly mounted to the shaft is adapted to rotate in its respective C-shaped holders. Therefore, if the belt B is fastened in a manner so as to encircle a particular body portion and the pedand for the sake of simplicity identifying only the most feet 12. The support structure supports in elevated position by means of a tube 16 a bicycle-type handle bar 14 and a seat 18 elevated from the support l0by means of a telescoping tube arrangement 20. In addition, there is provided a set of foot pedals 22 of the bicycle type which are mounted upon a rotatable shaft 24 having a sprocket gear 26 secured thereupon. The shaft 24 is supported by the structure 10. Rotation of the shaft 24 responsive to the operation of the foot pedals 22 is transmitted via a sprocket chain 28 to a sprocket gear 30 affixed upon a shaft 32, see FIG. 3. Rotation of the shaft 32 is transmitted via a mechanism, which will be described in connection with the other figures, to a belt B which is fitted with a plurality of massaging elements 34. The belt B is adapted to be fastened around the waist or torso of the user sitting on the seat 18 and can be closed by Velcro fastening means or other suitable als are operated, the massaging elements will engage the encircled body portion and revolve about the encircled body portion at the speed commensurate with the operation of the pedals.

In order to provide additional driving means and to continue the driving force upon the belt when the closure 36 traverses the area of the rollers 74, 54, 56 and 66, there is provided a left and right bracket and 102 respectively, see FIG. 4, each bracket hooking with its inner end to the central drive shaft 50 and each bracket supporting at its outer end a respective drive shaft 104 and 106. Drive shaft 104 is driven by means of a pulley secured to the shaft 104 and a flexible belt 112 looped around pulley 114 which is attached to the central drive shaft 50. Similarly, the shaft 106 is driven by a pulley secured to the shaft 106 and a flexible belt 122 and a pulley 124 secured to the drive shaft50. Each of the shafts 104 and 106 is equipped with a similar set of gears and pulleys as described and shown in FIG. 3, but for the sake of simplicity not repeated once again. Thus, the driving of the belt is continued despite a reduction in width at the area of the belt closure 36 seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will be apparent that instead of mounting the belt with its massaging elements from the rear of the seat l8, the belt may be mounted and driven from a position in front of the seat without deviating from the principle of the present invention. Moreover, whereas in the embodiment illustrated the belt will be driven in one rotation during operation of the foot pedals, a reversal of the rotation may be achieved either by cyclically reversing the direction of rotation of the foot pedals, or by introducing a reversing gear which at the option of the user may be coupled into and out of the driving mechanism. Alternatively, a mechanism, such as the well-known pitman, may be utilized in order to convert rotary motion to cyclic reciprocating motion whereby to obtain rotation of the belt B in one direction followed by a reversal, which cycle, of course, is constantly repeated. A cyclic reversal of the belt direction can be obtained very easily also by a rowing-type apparatus in which a lever, pivotally mounted, is operated by the hands as has been shown in my previous patents supra. In this connection it shall be clearly understood that the word encircling as used in the foregoing specification shall not be interpreted as requiring a complete circle of 360 but that the belt may be open-ended, similar to a bracelet. This construction can be achieved by making the belt of self-supporting structural material, such as spring steel.

While there hasbeen described a certain preferred embodiment of the present invention and various modifications and changes have been indicated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various further changes may be made therein without departing from the principle of the present invention which shall be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. An exercise and massaging apparatus (as set forth in claim 2) for use by a person comprising:

a support structure;

motive means coupled to said structure for operation by the person;

a belt for encircling, when worn, a body portion of s the person, said belt including a plurality of spaced holders, each holder supporting a respective massaging element positioned for engaging the body of the person at the portion encircled by the belt; means coupling said motive means to said belt for ..driving said belt about the encircled portion and causing said respective elements to revolve about such portion and in contact therewith, and

' said belt having closure means for adjustably closing the belt to adjust the engagement force between said massaging elements and the encircled body portion.

2. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said means coupling including rotatably mounted roller means driven by said motive means disposed for feeding said belt and driving said belt about the encircled body portion.

3. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said massaging element comprising a relatively firm rolling member.

4. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said belt being flexible, and each of said holders including means for rotatably mounting a respective massaging element.

5. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said means for rotatably mounting a respective massaging element comprising a respective shaft.

6. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said roller means engaging said belt at laterally spaced margins.

7. An exercise and massaging apparatus for use by a person comprising:

a stationary support structure;

motive means which include pedal means coupled to said structure for operation by the person;

a seat for use by the person secured to said structure;

a belt disposed for encircling a portion of the torso of the person seated on said seat, said belt including a plurality of spaced holders, each holder supporting a respective massaging element positioned for engaging the torso portion of the person, and

coupling means which include rotatably mounted roller means engaging said belt at laterally spaced margins and driven by said motive means disposed for driving said belt about the encircled torso portion.

8. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said belt being driven at a rotational speed commensurate with the speed of operation of said motive means. Y

9. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said coupling means further including gear means.

10. An exercise and massaging apparatus for use by a person comprising:

a stationary support structure;

motive means coupled to said structure for operation by the person;

a belt for encircling, when worn, a body portion of the person, said belt including a plurality of massaging elements adapted to engage the encircled portion;

drive means engaging said belt supported by said structure, and

means coupling said motive means to said drive means for causing said drive means to rotate said belt about the encircled portion responsive to the operation of said motive means, whereby saidmassaging elements revolve about said portion.

11. An exercising and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 10, said motive means including pedal means.

12. An exercise and massaging apparatus for use by a person comprising:

a stationary support structure;

motive means coupled to said structure for operation by the person;

a belt for encircling, when worn, a body portion of the person, said belt supporting a plurality of massaging elements adapted to engage the encircled portion;

bracket means supported from said support structure;

drive means for engaging said belt supported by said bracket means, and means coupling said motive means to said drive means for causing said drive means to rotate said belt about the encircled portion responsive to the operation of said motive means, whereby said massaging elements revolve about said portion. 

1. An exercise and massaging apparatus (as set forth in claim 2) for use by a person comprising: a support structure; motive means coupled to said structure for operation by the person; a belt for encircling, when worn, a body portion of the person, said belt including a plurality of spaced holders, each holder supporting a respective massaging element positioned for engaging the body of the person at the portion encircled by the belt; means coupling said motive means to said belt for driving said belt about the encircled portion and causing said respective elements to revolve about such portion and in contact therewith, and said belt having closure means for adjustably closing the belt to adjust the engagement force between said massaging elements and the encircled body portion.
 2. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said means coupling including rotatably mounted roller means driven by said motive means disposed for feeding said belt and driving said belt about the encircled body portion.
 3. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said massaging element comprising a relatively firm rolling member.
 4. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said belt being flexible, and each of said holders including means for rotatably mounting a respective massaging element.
 5. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said means for rotatably mounting a respective massaging element comprising a respective shaft.
 6. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said roller means engaging said belt at laterally spaced margins.
 7. An exercise and massaging apparatus for use by a person comprising: a stationary support structure; motive means which include pedal means coupled to said structure for operation by the person; a seat for use by the person secured to said structure; a belt disposed for encircling a portion of the torso of the person seated on said seat, said belt including a plurality of spaced holders, each holder supporting a respective massaging element positioned for engaging the torso portion of the person, and coupling means which include rotatably mounted roller means engaging said belt at laterally spaced margins and driven by said motive means disposed for driving said belt about the encircled torso portion.
 8. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said belt being driven at a rotational speed commensurate with the speed of operation of said motive means.
 9. An exercise and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said coupling means further including gear means.
 10. An exercise and massaging apparatus for use by a person comprising: a stationary support structure; motive means coupled to said structure for operation by the person; a belt for encircling, when worn, a body portion of the person, said belt including a plurality of massaging elements adapted to engage the encircled portion; drive means engaging said belt supported by said structure, and means coupling said motive means to said drive means for causing said drive means to rotate said belt about the encircled portion responsive to the operation of said motive means, whereby said massaging elements revolve about said portion.
 11. An exercising and massaging apparatus as set forth in claim 10, said motive means including pedal means.
 12. An exercise and massaging apparatus for use by a person comprising: a stationary support structure; motive means coupled to said structure for operation by the person; a belt for encircling, when worn, a body portion of the person, said belt supporting a plurality of massaging elements adapted to engage the encircled portion; bracket means supported from said support structure; drive means for engaging said belt supported by said bracket means, and means coupling said motive means to said drive means for causing said drive means to rotate said belt about the encircled portion responsive to the operation of said motive means, whereby said massaging elements revolve about said portion. 